Agra Beat

Monday, 8 April 2013

There are so many things to see and experience in the Heritage city of Taj Mahal. Agra is not limited up to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. There are no.of things to explore beyond these monuments. Glimpses of Oriental Agra is an effort to introduce the people with the rich culture and heritage of oriental Agra for which Agra is known for.

This tour is conducted using this type of Rickshaws :

Days of operation: Every Saturday and SundayTimings: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.Inclusions:

Friday, 5 October 2012

The tomb in red sandstone was built by
Ann Hessing, widow of a Dutch officer, Colonel John Hessing, after his death in
1803.

In the 18th century, during the period
of expansion of the European powers in the east, a number of European
mercenaries came to India. In the course of time they grew increasingly
powerful and played an important role in the new power struggle. They conquered
kingdoms, overturned princes and ruled provinces. A long list of such military
adventurers can be drawn, though their names are but as indistinct items on a
long forgotten scrawl, almost obliterated by the dust of time. Some of the
European military freelancers of that time rose to such a prominence that they
could mint coins of their names and bear their own distinctive imprints — a
prerogative of the royalty.

One
of the most illustrious mercenaries of those heady days of adventure and
conquest was John William Hessing (spelt Jan Willem Hessing in Dutch). He was
born in Utrecht in 1739, entered the military service of the V.O.C. (United
Dutch East India Company) at an early age of 13 and arrived in Ceylon in 1752.
Five years later, Hessing returned to the Netherlands. But after a decade, in
1763, he returned to the east, obviously longing for adventure.

Possibly as a result of the fourth
Anglo-Dutch war, by which in 1781 the British occupied the Dutch settlements in
India. Hessing, as did many of his clan, took refuge with the local rulers and
warlords and entered into military service with them.

Hessing first commissioned in the army
of the Nizam and in 1784 entered the service of Scindia. He took part in
several major battles. Hessing wanted to leave due to differences with the
senior officers, but Mahadaji Scindia did not let him go. He retained Hessing
to organise a Bodyguard Force(Khas Risala)on the European
model. He accompanied Mahadaji to Poona in June 1792. During their stay in
Poona, Mahadaji died in 1794. Daulat Rao Scindia continued with his services.
In course of time, Hessing rose appreciable in the esteem of Daulat Rao and
received from him the command of a brigade of four battalions.

In 1799, Hessing was appointed
Commander of the Agra Fort and its Maratha garrison and the city of Agra. He
held Agra till his death on 21 July 1803. Anne was devastated with grief. She
along with her sons and daughter paid tribute and got a grand tomb for the
burial of her husband. she was inspired by the Taj and so planned a similar
structure. It is situated in an old graveyard, Near Agra Civil Court on M.G.
Road.

In its plan and execution, Hessing’s
tomb is a feeble imitation of the Taj, in red sandstone. Nowhere is western
influence seen on the building. Although it is not an architectural delight
when compared with the Taj Mahal and is known even to the local populace, but
it is built in the same spirit of love and emotional appeal. A Dutch soul
permanently took abode in an Indian body.

The white mausoleum of Shah Jahan for
Mumtaz overshadows all the tombs in the world, but the ‘Red Taj’ is also a
monument of sublime love of a disconsolate spouse. The entrance has two Persian
inscriptions, one of which is the epitaph and the other a chronogram. They are:

"When Colonel John William Hessing
departed from this world, he left hundreds of scars of separation. By person he
belonged to Holland and was born in that country. He gained fame in India, by
the Grace of God."

"The author asked the angel for a
quadruplet of the chronogram. In which the day, year and month can be
condensed. When the day, year and month was searched in the Christian era. The
angel said, "The date is twenty-first July (1803)".

The tomb is actually a smaller project
on a much reduced scale and some very complicated and costly details of the Taj
such as theminarsand thechhatrisbelow the dome have
been dispensed with. It is much simpler and has no inlay or mosaic.

The tomb stands on a square platform,
3.40 m and 117.68 m side, containing a crypt and a corridor around it. An
octagonal platform, 2.59 m in span is attached to its each corner.

The terrace of the main platform (on
which stands the tomb) is accessible by twin stairways attached to it on the
western side with a platform measuring 6.71x2.64 m. It is essentially a Mughal
design. Slender turrets are attached to the central iwanframe and they are
crowned, on the superstructure, by graceful pinnacles. The tomb is roofed by a
beautiful double-dome, crowned by a magnificentmahapadma(sheath of lotus
petals) andkalash. It reposes
gorgeously amidst pinnacles andchhatrisof the turrets and by
any standard it is a perfect superstructure.

The interior is a square chamber of
5.38 m side. Simple squinches have been used in the phase of transition. The
ceiling has a ribs-and-panels soffit and a beautiful apex. The stone cenotaph,
bearing an inscription in English, is placed at the centre of the chamber. The
monument is essentially the art of the Jamuna Chambal region and marks
continuance of the Mughal ideas, feelings and skills in the 19th century.

Thursday, 6 September 2012

Sikandra is the place where Akbar is buried. Akbar was a
great and most successful emperor among all the Mughal kings.

Akbar was raised in the rugged country of Afghanistan rather
than amongst the splendor of the Delhi court. He spent his youth learning to
hunt, run, and fight and never found time to read or write. He was the only
great Mughal ruler who was illiterate. Despite this, he had a great desire for
knowledge. This led him not only to maintain an extensive library but also to
learn. Akbar had his books read out to him by his courtiers. Therefore, even
though unable to read, Akbar was as knowledgeable as the most learned of
scholars.

Akbar came to throne in 1556, after the death of his father,
Humayun. At that time, Akbar was only 13 years old. Akbar was the only Mughal
king to ascend to the throne without the customary war of succession; as his
brother Muhammad Hakim was too feeble to offer any resistance.

During the first five years of his rule, Akbar was assisted
and advised by Bahram Khan in running the affairs of the country. Bahram Khan
was, however, removed and for a few years Akbar ruled under the influence of
his nurse Maham Anga. After 1562, Akbar freed himself from external influences
and ruled supreme.

Akbar was a great patron of architecture, art, and
literature. His court was rich in culture as well as wealth. In fact, his court
was so splendid that the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, once even
sent out her ambassador, Sir Thomas Roe, to meet the king! Many of Akbar's
buildings still survive, including the Red Fort at Agra, and the city of
Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, which has a 10-km long wall encircling it.

Friday, 31 August 2012

Located
in Agra, Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, built by the great mughal emperor Shah
Jahan, in memory of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who is also known as
Arjumand Bano Begum. Standing majestically on the bank of river Yamuna, it is
one of the most recognizable structures and one of the most beautiful buildings
in the world. This ‘epitome of love’ and romance, leaves visitors
mesmerised and perpetually enthralled. A style that combines elements
from Persian, Turkish and Indian architectural styles, it is the finest example
of Mughal architecture.

In 1983, it became a UNESCO world heritage and has remained as one
of the Seven Wonders of the World over a period of time. At the break of dawn,
when the first rays of the sun hits the dome of this epic monument, it radiates
like a bright golden heavenly abode. Then at dusk, on a moonlit night, it
shines like a perfectly carved diamond, leaving the visitors awestruck by its
shear grandeur. The beauty of this visual spectacle touches you deep
inside when one hears the story behind the magnificent structure.

The Taj
Mahal "crown of palaces", is a white marble mausoleum located in
Agra, India on the banks of the river Yamuna. Taj Mahal is the finest example
of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish
and Indian architectural styles. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as
"the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired
masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is one of the 7 international
wonders.

Taj Mahal has a story that has been touching the hearts of millions
of people ever since it was built. A story that is considered a living example
of ‘eternal love’. The love story of the mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (Prince
Kurram) and Mumtaz Mahal (Anjumand Banu Begum). In 1631, Shah Jahan, during the
Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when, Mumtaz
Mahal died during the birth of their fourteenth child due to some
complications. While Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her that
he would never remarry and will build the richest mausoleum over her grave, to
commemorate their tale of pure love. After the construction of this magnificent
monument, Shajahan buried his beloved wife's body right in the center. This
unique piece of art is incomparable and stand apart from all monuments present
in the world. There is much more than what is been said or written till date.
So come and experience this epitome of true love in person and cherish the
mesmerizing beauty which is just ineffable.

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Taj Mahal– With its incredible lacy white grandeur the Taj Mahal is perhaps
the most perfect architectural monument in the world. To the poet Tagore it was
a ‘tear in the face of eternity’. In memory of his wife, Emperor Shah Jehan
constructed this most extravagant and incomparable monument built for love.
Amazingly graceful from any angle, it is the close up detail, which is really
astounding. The monument appears to change its hue as it is tinted by the glow
of the setting sun.

Visiting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Opens on: All days of the week except Friday.

Night viewing of Taj Mahal: Night viewing is permitted only on five nights in a month. On the full moon night and two nights prior and two days after the full moon night.

The night viewing is limited to maximum 400 people per night, divided into eight batches of 50 each and each batch is allowed to visit for a maximum duration of 30 minutes. Night viewing is not allowed on Friday

Timings: 8:30 pm to 00:30 am

The tickets for night viewing need to be booked one day in advance from the Archaeological Survey of India office located at 22,The Mall, Agra, between 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Thursday, 23 August 2012

"There are two types of people in this World, One who have seen the Taj Mahal and one who don't" . These are the words quoted by former President Bill Clinton when he visited Agra.Its everybody wish to visit Taj Mahal once in his lifetime and we provide all the necessary information on Taj Mahal and the Agra city.Agra Beat is an professionally managed organisation serving to the people visiting Agra from Last 8 years. We provide services to the people planning to visit Agra & nearby areas.